Here is a pre-game conversation with Dwyane Wade about the issue that nearly kept him out of tonight’s Heat game at Brooklyn:

What are you dealing with exactly?
“I really can’t explain it. I really don’t even know how to explain it. But I’m good to go.”

So is it a cold or flu or stomach or what?
“No. It’s hard to explain. It’s not really that kind of thing. ‘Illness’ is what we went with, but what I’m dealing with is a little different. I can’t even explain it. It’s kind of what I was dealing with last game (he said his tongue was swollen), but a little bit more. It’s a swollen mouth. You see how I’m talking? So I’ve gotta get back to Miami and see what I’m really dealing with.”

Is it an allergy?
“I don’t know. Being on the road, you can’t really find out too much. I’ll find out tomorrow.”

It’s not migraine-related?
“No, no migraine, no throwing up, no tummy ache, nothing like that. I’m good to play basketball.”

Can you talk on the court?
“It’s gonna be a little problem. I just better be in the right spot. Sometimes when you get out there, some things go way. It’s not ideal, but there’s worse things I’ve dealt with.”

So we call it a swollen mouth?
“I don’t know what to call it.”

Does it affect your play at all?
“Just my breathing level. When air gets into my mouth it kinda sucks. Hopefully it’s not. (Editor’s note: It isn’t. This is one of the coldest arenas in the NBA now that they play hockey here.)

Is it an injury to your tongue, like a wound?
“It’s more than that now. I did bite it, though. I have the bite mark back there. I’ve got a few different things going on. I don’t want to gross you guys out with everything that might be going on. I don’t even know.”

But you can understand why we don’t understand what you’re describing.
“Yeah, because I don’t. We’ll talk on Friday and I’ll give you more information.”

Is it dental?
“I don’t think so. I can’t really give y’all any more information. That’s all I know. But I’ll be playing.”